Jocelyn Ulyett Drops 5 Seconds to Break British Record in 200 Breast

2017 BRITISH SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Jocelyn Ulyett has broken the British National Record in the 200 meter breaststroke. She swam a 2:22.08 in Wednesday’s finals session, beating out her teammate Molly Renshaw, who was 2nd in 2:23.04. Renshaw was the previous record holder in the event, having swum 2:22.33 at last summer’s Olympic Games.

  • Ulyett’s splits: 32.65/35.76/36.12/37.54

The swim makes Ulyett the 15th-best performer of all-time and 6th-fastest European ever behind Rikke Pedersen, Yulia Efimova, Viktoria Gunes, Nadja Higl, and Mirna Jukic.

What’s most remarkable about Ulyett’s time isn’t even the 2:22.0 of it; it’s how fast she’s dropped. Her best time coming into the 2016-2017 season was a 2:28.40, done at Britain’s 2016 Olympic Trials last April. Then, at the 2017 BUCS (British college) Championships, she showed a few glimmers with a 2:27.25 full-second improvement.

She ripped through prelims on Wednesday with what she called a “confidence building” swim of 2:25.25, and that confidence paid off in finals with one of the most meteoric rises in British swimming history.

Ulyett trains in Loughborough’s university squad in a group with Ian Hulme as coach (as compared to its national training center squad, where Mel Marshall is the lead coach).

The time confirmed Ulyett’s place for the 2017 World Championships, just the second swimmer to confirm an invite through 2 days of the meet in Britain’s challenging selection process.

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NYJOHN
6 years ago

If Jocelyn Ulyett (GBR) were Xijian Liuyang (CHN) many of us would scream “Is that girl being drug-tested?!”

Prickle
Reply to  NYJOHN
6 years ago

You are right, fan’s judgment is unfair and bias. When Katinka Hosszu dropped same 5 seconds at the second 200 (that includes breaststroke leg) of her world record race at 400IM in Rio, nobody even noticed. There were no progress at her key strokes to indicate her great form. There was no indication of great endurance because in contrast to such swimmers like DiRado or Ledecky Hosszu’s performances declined with each next event during the meet.
Yeah, things happen at women’s breaststroke. Let’s leave it this way.

Hswimmer
Reply to  Prickle
6 years ago

DiRado didn’t even drop that much time to win the 2back..

NYJOHN
Reply to  Hswimmer
6 years ago

Very true.
Had Seebohm, Franklin, Hosszu, Hocking, and Zevina swum anywhere near their best, Dirado would not even have medaled. Clearly, Maya had as best preparation as she could have ever done, and she was being rewarded.

Prickle
Reply to  NYJOHN
6 years ago

You missed my point. I’m not discussing if Maya DiRado should or shouldn’t be awarded.
Maya DiRado swam and medalled in same events as Hosszu did in Rio with exception of 100 BK. Plus she had very stressful and unexpected assignment that she hasn’t been preparing for at 800 relay that she completed superbly. But in contrast to Hosszu she stayed at great endurance shape all meet long capable to make her personal best at last event. As much as Ledecky did.
Maya DiRado’s example was used to underline that Katinka Hosszu wasn’t in great shape (endurance) at OG to explain her 5 second drop just at second half of 400IM race compare to the same race several… Read more »

bobo gigi
6 years ago

There’s something magic about British breaststroke in the recent years. If they could give a few secrets to their neighbors of France….

Thomas
Reply to  bobo gigi
6 years ago

Ah, but then France (at least the men) would have a decent medley relay, which I suspect the Brits may not want ;). Maybe in exchange for some backstroke tips? CWH’s steady decline over the last couple of years is a real worry, though Luke Greenbank has seemed back on the upward curve this year.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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